Tractor track chain



Jan. 8 .1946. w. w. PORTER TRACTOR'TRACK CHAIN Filed Aug. 21 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor William 7}- Parier By QM and m mm 8, 1 4 w. w. PRTE-R 2,392, 6

TRACTOR TRACK il-IAIN FiledkAug. 21, 1945 3 Sheetg-Sheet 2 William W Paris?- 7 Jan. 8, 1946. w. w. PORTER TRACTOR TRACK CHAIN Filed Aug. 21, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 25 Inventor )Vzllz'avn )4. Parfer Patented Jan. 8, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TRACTOR TRACK CHAIN William W. Porter, Haycock, Territory of Alaska Application August 21, 1943, Serial No. 499,462

1 Claim.

Figure 1 represents a top plan view showing a stretch of the improved chain.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the structure shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the rail link shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a section on line 55 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is an end elevational view of the improved rail link.

Figure '7 is a cross section on line 1-1 of Figure 3.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the improved rail link.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts, it can be seen that numerals 5, 6 generally refer to the inside and outside rails of a tractor track chain and the component links 1 thereof of conventional design, the end portions of which are reduced and interlap in the manner as shown.

In carrying out the present invention, an intermediate rail generally referred to by numeral 8 is introduced, and this is composed of links 9 which are preferably of stronger construction than the outside links 1.

The links 9 each consist of flat top and bottom portions III, II, the bottom portion having a re-.

inforcing rib l2, with this rib merging with a reduced eye I3 at one end, the eye having an opening l4, while the opposite end of the link 9 is bifurcated as at l5 to define a pair of eyes it, I 6, which have beveled portions l1, I! that match the beveled portion l8 of the eye I3.

The eyes of the link 9 accommodate pins 19 which also extend through the ends of the side links I, and as is usual, spacer sleeves 20 are provided on the pins (9 between the outside rails and the improved intermediate rail 8.

When the pins and bushings of the above structure are worn to the same degree as the corresponding elements of present types of track chains, the vehicle will not jump the track as the present-day devices do, due to the presence of the triple rail construction. The triple rail construction has proportionately less play than the two rail constructions when worn to the same degree as far as pins and bushings are concerned.

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specific terms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, size, and materials may be resortedto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:,

A tractor track chain comprising a pair of outside rails each consisting of a plurality of inter- I connected links and an intermediate rail composed of a plurality of interconnected links, each of the links of the, intermediate rail consisting of elongated upper and lower portions bridged by end formations, a reinforcing rib extending along the inner surface of said lower portion, one of said end formations being reduced and apertured to form an eye, the other end formation being bifurcated and apertured to define a pair of eyes, the eyes at each end of the last mentioned link being provided with beveled portions.

WILLIAM W. PORTER. 

